Jewels

All I know is that I bought 8 more minutes today after having 8 yesterday and I still left craving more. BUT, I will say that I was in the tunnel with a guy who had over 200 jumps and it was immensely satisfying to realize that I can hold my own with him. Now, in the sky--that's a different story, I know. Guess I'll have to take to the blue and find out which one I like best! It just all looks so incredibly FUN. I want to do it all!

Think so. I had that impression from a conversation I had with him once, but I could be completely wrong about that. I'd be good with anyone from the tunnel. I just feel better knowing them and knowing that they at least have some clue about my skills--and I use that term loosely.

Which Brad? Tuesday Brad or Rocky? I'd be good with either one. Or Matt. I like Matt. He thinks analytically.

LOL--how snuggly this all sounds! (I seriously doubt that real skydivers ever use the word "snuggly" to describe a tandem jump.) I need someone I trust from the tunnel.

How awesome is that?!!! I go back and forth on the tandem vs. AFF thing. It just looks so wildly uncomfortable and cumbersome to have someone attached to you. Mentally, though, it could be a very good idea. I have to hurry up and ponder. I just think it's time to go out the door.

SWEET! Okay, Tuesday night we make the pitch. Will you help? I think it would be GREAT to do this together and before we lose Carl, as it just wouldn't seem right to do my first jump without him there too. I'm thinking AFF, knowing that I can't start this right now and that I'll have to do it over again. Whaddaya think? (Carl was right--this website was a "big step" and it's pushing me over the edge. Just need a few less "BSBD" notations.)

It's so bad. I DO understand--all too well! I need to have time to become an instructor before I get fired for lack of concentration, so at least I'll have a job opportunity when they decide I'm useless behind a desk. It's good that you have the disease so that I'm not alone. It's like having my own support group--except that we feed each other's obsessions instead of making it better. No that I would have it any other way!

So, um, theoretically speaking, of course, Yvonne, would you be around to do a jump in the next couple of weeks? And Mary? No clue what Tammy's schedule holds, but I think we might be able to exert some positive peer pressure. . . .

Great website! I know that was for Yvonne's benefit, but thanks for tossing it out there!

Julie

It's an expensive addiction, but SO worth it. I haven't done my first jump yet, but it's coming--and I'm hoping that my tunnel time will serve me well! i keep thinking that the more I do it, the more it will mellow out for me and become par for the course, but I find that it's working just the opposite way. Spent 8 minutes in the tunnel yesterday and am going back for 8 more today. Gotta love the tunnel.

I REALLY have yet to ever see the "bitch" side of you. Is that just an aspiration, or what? (And for everyone else's benefit, I know I'm a woman and so my perception doesn't necessarily mean much to the men, but Sartre is much more to look at than just "cute." Plus, she's the only woman I know who doesn't get helmet hair, which I have yet to figure out.)

Excuse me for eavesdropping on your conversation, but that whole "losing focus at work" thing is MUCH too accurate. I haven't even done my first jump; I just spend time in the tunnel so far and I STILL can't concentrate at work. Of course, maybe that has something to do with watching skydiving videos online instead of doing other, more productive things, but it's still a problem that is made much worse by the fact that I have to work in order to feed the obsession.

Tell me about it! It all goes so quickly--except work, which seems to occupy 20 hours of every day. (Okay, okay--SLIGHT exaggeration.) The money is gone before it's in the door. *Sigh.* We don't need second jobs; we just need sponsors!

Thanks for the welcome! I feel very much at home already but I need to take that last step out the door so I can be legit. I've been up to the DZ once--on a completely useless, rainy day when it was all socked in and NOTHING was happening. Time to go back!

DITTO! You're a tiny little tunnel pixie and you're talking about a diet?! They'll NEVER spot you in the sky!

What the heck are you doing online this early on a Saturday morning? If you're up, shouldn't you be at the DZ by now??!

How long are you still here? I need to talk Tammy into doing a jump when we can go and you, Yvonne and Mary can all be there. I think the first jump should be done with friends.

You mean to say I have to wait until MARCH?! AFF is definitely in my future, and I have to make the pilgrimage to Eloy because it seems to be the Center of the World. (Is that right, or is it just the closest center to us?) I just might have to get in a jump first, though. I feel tainted by my whuffo status and need to get rid of that.

Tunnel today at 4:00. I couldn't help myself. Your three-way last Tuesday looked too much fun.

You're a good example to follow!! I just need to be shown the door. . . .

I suspect that you can't compress the process because I'll bet part of the point of it all is just to get actual experience. That's okay; I want to be safe ("safe") in the sky and if it means not taking any shortcuts, I'm okay with that.

I have at least an hour in the tunnel by now, I'm sure, but I can't tell you how many minutes it really is. I should've paid attention when I started, but I was more focused on just DOING it and, well, you know--time flies when you're having fun!

Anyway, I think I'm probably SkyVenture's only remedial learner. The instructors (and Carl) tell me not to be so hard on myself, but I want to master it all NOW. So, I'm working to just chill out and love it instead of being so focused on why I'm not doing __________ (fill in the blank) already.

[you've been at the wind tunnel eh? crazy! have I met you before? not sure though...i haven't been there all that often, just a couple times a month..... ]

Okay, that whole quote thing doesn't seem to be working, but I'll figure it out.

Yes, I've been at the tunnel but I don't know if we've met yet. I'm doing the adult league. Are you in Colorado? (Based on your question, I assume so--AND, I suppose I could get smart and check your profile!) The problem is, I find that every week I go, I get a new challenge to conquer and then I'm buying eight more minutes to practice back flying or docking or just to get in more stability exercises. $$$--but I can't think of many better ways to spend it!

Tell me about it. I've already experienced the whole "you either get it or you don't" phenomenon with the people at the wind tunnel. There are those who do it and enjoy it and who can walk out of the building just saying, "well, that was fun," and then there are the people like me who get euphoric on the whole experience. I assume that the real experience is like that, too--only on steroids. I would be worried about the addiction if I didn't already love it so much!

Thanks for the warm greeting--even to someone with a big, fat, unattractive "0" in the jumps column!

It's the whole business about being hooked that really gets me. I suspect it's going to be a total love affair with the air. Who knew you could be so passionate about something that, technically, you've never done??!

I am SO FREAKIN' IN TROUBLE IT'S NOT FUNNY! YOU, Carl, YOU'RE the one who started casually bringing your AFF materials and the SIMS manual to the tunnel. It's all your fault and I'll have you to thank for it later.

WHO KNEW YOU CLEAN UP SO WELL?!!! Nice pics, Carl!

(See you at league. . . .)

I'm just dropping in to say hello. So far, I'm just an addicted tunnel rat with aspirations of transitioning to the Real Thing. The greatest thing holding me back is the financial commitment, because I know once I take the first step out of the plane, there is no going back!